Right to Work in North Carolina
State-specific overview · Employment Law
North Carolina is a right-to-work state; employees cannot be required to join unions or pay union fees.
How North Carolina treats Right to Work
North Carolina enacted right-to-work protections under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 95-78.1, prohibiting union security agreements that require membership or fee payments as a condition of employment. Employees have the right to work without joining a union or paying union dues, even in unionized workplaces. This applies to both private and public sector employment.
The general definition of Right to Work
A legal principle that employees cannot be forced to join a union or pay union fees as a job condition.
Right to work is a state law that protects workers from being required to join a labor union or pay union dues in order to keep their job. In right-to-work states, union membership is voluntary. This contrasts with union-security agreements in other states, where workers may be required to join or contribute to a union as a condition of employment.
Read the full Right to Work entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in North Carolina.